Arden Conroy’s How to Charm a Duke releases tomorrow, and she was kind enough to answer some questions for us.
You can get your copy of this new series, sweet dreams romance HERE!
Did you always know you wanted to be an author? What is the first story you remember writing? How did you get from there to where you are today?
Being an author always sounded like the coolest thing to me! In grade school, one of our teachers published a picture book and she read it to our class. I’ve been completely starry-eyed to the idea ever since. It always seemed like an unattainable dream, something that would be amazing but probably wouldn’t happen. Looking back, though, I can see the clear path I took. When I went to university I studied English Literature and Journalism and hold degrees in both. I always liked tinkering with words, playing around with poetry. I went into a career with a heavy focus on writing, though it was not creative writing. Then when our oldest was born I left the corporate world and my husband asked me what I would want to do next? I told him I wanted to be an author.
What is the most inspiring place you’ve visited and has it shown up in one of your books?
The house—or what remains of it—that my Irish second great-gran grew up in. It’s basically a pile of stones now. Extremely small, yet for a big family. We still keep in touch with our relatives there. And I think about how close they must have been back then for us to still be tied to them now. When life feels impossible, I think about how scary and difficult it must have been to leave a close-knit family and come to the United States, a foreign place, and start over. I think this is why I often write characters who are outcasts, or a bit different, sometimes with immigrant parents or working class themselves.
How much research do you do into the time period and places you write about? Do you have any experience dressing in character or participating in living history situations or are you more a fan of libraries and online resources?
Huge fan of libraries and online resources! I always do research for every book I write but the amount varies. Sometimes I know most of it already. The Honeyfield Hearts Series needed significant research, especially book two. Though it is mostly humorous and lighthearted, labor history is a major part of the series as well. I know a lot about unions as we’re a union family, but my knowledge about its history was rather vague so I had to dig in. Usually, when we think about women’s history we think about suffrage. But women workers were trying to gain labor rights at the same time. What I was most surprised to uncover in my research was a group called The Mink Brigade. Those women were a major influence to this series. Wealthy women like Alva Belmont (better known as her former name Alva Vanderbilt) helped women workers organize, supported them financially, even bailed them out of jail when they were arrested for picketing. They walked alongside the workers during protests to bring legitimacy to their plight. Ignored for a long time, the workers started making front page news when people like Alva Belmont were at their side.
What drew you to the era you write in? Is there something about the time period you think most people don’t know about? What do you think would be the most difficult part about living in that period?
I come from a family that immigrated to the United States in the 20th century. At the same time, my 8th great-grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War and crossed the Delaware River with George Washington. History, not surprisingly, is incredibly interesting to me. Despite the interesting ties to Washington, I find myself mostly drawn to the late Victorian period and early Edwardian era. There was a lot going on in during this era. As my biggest familial influence was my immigrant family (I have vivid memories of one of my immigrant great-grandmothers). They were working class and union members. In fact, we’ve been union members every generation since. Labor rights are incredibly important to me. And I wanted to somehow bring that into historical romance.
What are your favorite kind of characters to write? Do you have a specific trope that you’re drawn too?
Love a broody, tortured, unhappy, and miserable hero. Grumpy/sunshine is always a fun one to write.
Where is your favorite place to write? Does it change depending on where you are in the process?
Drafting is done on my couch. Editing is done in my office, where I can shut the door. Ha!
Which comes first for you: the plot or the characters?
Characters, definitely! I need to know what they’re like before making everything difficult for them.
Do you know where the story is going before you begin, or does it come to you as you write? Do scenes come to you fully formed or are you as surprised as the reader?
It comes to me as I write. I’m what’s called a “plantser”. I plan key points in the story like the beginning, ending, and climax. Sometimes other random scenes I’d like to see. But everything else I write “by the seat of my pants”. The story basically unfolds as I get it onto paper.
Does your writing process include any kind of ritual? Story specific playlists, tea, or candles, for example?
Take kids to the bus. Run for 30 minutes. Coffee. Lofi Girl playlist on YouTube. Write until I need a nap.
Do you write better in the morning or evening? How do you handle the distractions of working from home, especially if you’re sharing the space with others?
Before my kids were in grade school it was evening. Now it’s morning and I can’t write in the evening. I like getting my writing done before everything else. I struggle writing when others are home and have come to accept that I can’t do it anymore unless I have a hot deadline coming up.
When it’s difficult to physically travel, how do you find ways to escape?
I’m a homebody so I’m perfectly happy escaping through books.
From all your books, who is your favorite hero and why?
This is always a tough question to answer! I think in this series Liam from book 2 is my favorite. He’s so different for the time while simply being true to his self, I can’t help but root for him and gush when he finally—finally!—finds happiness and love. If I had to pick my favorite hero ever from all of my books it’s Victor from A LADY’S RULES FOR SEASIDE ROMANCE. There is no contest. He’s so tortured and gloomy but deep down is caring and loving and does so much for his family that they don’t know about. I think he will remain my ultimate favorite for quite some time.
What do you like to read when you’re not reading in your genre? Did you have a favorite book or series when you were growing up?
I am a huge thrillers and mysteries fan outside of historical romance. I love Ann Cleeves (Matthew Venn is my favorite series at the moment), and stories set in creepy forests. Growing up? Hmm. I would have to say Goosebumps. I remember going to the school library and we would all run as fast as we could to the Goosebumps shelf, trying to beat each other to get one of the books because they were hot commodities and there weren’t enough for us all.
